Also this issue:

Reverb
The inexplicable truth behind Mission of Burma’s belated popularity.
-Sam Adams

Topical Ointment
Eric Schwartz can turn them on and off.
-Mary Armstrong

Platinum Bond
Dieselboy, Sine, J Messinian and co. celebrate five years of starting the weekend early.
-Sean O’Neal

Full House
-Lou Camp

Ribbon of Highway/ Endless Skyway Tour
-Mary Armstrong

The Yohimbe Brothers
-A.D. Amorosi

The Vexers
-Sam Adams

Nada Surf
-Sam Adams

February 20-26, 2003

beat box

compiled by Ainé Ardron-Doley

Brrrr. Dig out and shake off the cabin fever. It's party time.

Or perhaps it's time to learn a li'l sumptin' as Hip Hop 101 presents special guest speaker The Last Emperor. It's free. It's the "mystery man" himself at a podium. Need we say more? Thu., Feb. 20, 7-9 p.m., free, Temple University, Anderson Hall, Room 14, 1114 Berks St., 215-552-8714.

As we like to say, La Tazza keeps it poppin' with undiluted live mic-checkin' from Reef The Lost Cauze, Diverse, Subhoodz, Side Effect, K-Sarrah, Adam 12, Splitt and Neva Broke Entertainment for the "Make Love, Not War" edition of Headnodders Ball. Big ups to Ms. Promoter, Sonya, for taking a stand against George W. Bush and his wretched war. Sat., Feb. 22, 10 p.m.-2 a.m., $6, La Tazza, 108 Chestnut St., 215-922-7322. Or stride up west as U Penn's Foundation continues to bring great events (big names and small, but always talented artists) to The Rotunda. This week it's the monthly open mic for spoken wordsters, MCs, vocalists and singer/songwriters, Linguistics! Featured guest Karmacy delivers a message of cultural and social awareness with an intricate mixture of hip-hop and eastern philosophy. Sat., Feb. 22, 8 p.m., all ages, free, The Rotunda, 4012 Walnut St., 215-573-3234.

Grammy time! Join the Philadelphia Chapter of The National Recording Academy as they host The 45th Annual Grammy Awards Telecast Party. Big-screen TVs, freshly brewed beer, hosts WXPN's Ali Castellini and WDAS' Patty Jackson, plus prize giveaways make for a tempting invite. Sun., Feb. 23, 8-11:30 p.m., free, Independence Brew Pub, 1150 Filbert St., 215-863-2212.

In conjunction with Urban Expressions, Lil' Drummaboy Recordings hosts a Listening Party for Next of Kin's Urban Epoch and Pitch Black's Total Package. Songs from both albums will be spinning all night so preview the work before you buy. Wed., Feb. 26, 10 p.m.-1 a.m., $2, Eden Roc, 1437 South St., 215-732-3939.

Generation Hip-Hop has spoken, from the Russell Simmons and Mos Def antiwar spots in NYC to the conclusion of Scarface's Carson Daly performance, they've pressed for a peaceful solution to the world's problems. No War in Iraq. Make your voice heard. And hip-hop? You might want to check yourself while you're at it. Last I heard rap beef was in rare form, from The Source to XXL to Eminem, 50 Cent, Benzino, Ja Rule and then some.